Journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke believes that Djed Spence’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur could push Emerson Royal closer to the exit door.
Spurs announced the Middlesbrough right-back as their sixth signing of the summer on Tuesday morning for an initial £12.5m, with a further £7.5m in add-ons included in the deal.
The England U21 international enjoyed a fine promotion-winning campaign at Nottingham Forest last season, scoring two goals and creating a further five as a marauding right wing-back in Steve Cooper’s side.
He joins Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal as options for Antonio Conte in that position, but with the suggestion that Lucas Moura could also be reverted from a full-fledged winger, it has begged the question that there could be some overcrowding in that department – and Pitt-Brooke feels it could be Royal who suffers.
Taking to Twitter, he said:
“Interested to see where Spence sits in the pecking order now. Spurs have basically three and a half options there: Spence, Doherty, Royal and now seemingly Lucas. Would imagine that one will go, probably Royal.”
TIF Thoughts on Royal and Spurs…
Would it be the right call to sell Emerson?
Yes
No
Would it be the right call to sell Emerson?
Yes
No
Emerson Royal was praised for a ‘really top’ performance by Antonio Conte last season, so it shows he can perform when he wants to.
Nuno Espirito Santo brought the Brazilian to Hotspur Way last summer for €30m (£25.73m) from Barcelona, who had only exercised their buy-back option earlier in the window to regain the defender.
In the Premier League, Emerson made over twice as many starts as Doherty, but his goals and assists average per 90 minutes of 0.08 was some way off of the Irishman’s, who averaged 0.62 goal involvements and almost an assist every other game (FBRef).
Doherty was also dribbled past five times compared to his teammate’s 32, and while the pair finished the season with a similar pass completion rate, it was Doherty who provided the most assists with four, while Royal only managed one.
Therefore, it may make sense for the latter to be the one on the chopping block as Pitt-Brooke predicts.